A puma, sometimes known as mountain lionphoto courtesy of BigCats Online

In a few weeks, the government will be presented with a dossier aiming to prove that big cats do prowl the English countryside.

It has been drawn up by the British Big Cat Society and points to a massive increase in sightings over recent months from 438 in 2001 to 1,200 in the last 12 months.

Claims that pumas, panthers, and leopards have been spotted roaming the English countryside will form part of the report to be handed to the Home Office and the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The British Big Cats Society, which has 600 members nationwide, now reports three sightings a day. According to the society, sightings have been reported in most English counties.